Give Me Strength: Giving Appreciation

Yesterday was Thanksgiving. I spent the day with my parents where we ate a full vegetarian meal, watched Star Trek Beyond and played some games. It provided me necessary down time and the comfort of being with those who provide unconditional love and support. Thanksgiving has never been my favorite holiday but I do appreciate having the time to stop and appreciate what one has in life. This year, this feels more important than usual.

So, what am I grateful for? I’ll start with the obvious. I’m thankful for my family. I have always felt very fortunate to have parents, in particular, who support me in so many ways. Last year, at this time, my mom was finishing treatment for cancer and this year, she has been cancer free. My father, who has a chronic illness, has been able to manage it better. I’m thankful, then, that they are as healthy as can be and still able to be there for me.

This year, I also learned to really appreciate my job. I often complain about the daily grind of education and teaching. Don’t get me wrong. Teaching is exhausting and requires far more work than a full time job. I wish I could change that time commitment on top of all of the district, state and national demands and criticisms. That said, my colleagues and my students have renewed my spirit in ways that they may never understand. Now, I feel like we really are a big, weird dysfunctional family trying to make it through each day, each week, this school year and beyond together.

Of course, I am very grateful for my friendship with Rhonda. While we may not live close to each other or are able to speak everyday, I know that she is supportive of me. She may not always understand all of my choices or me of hers, yet, we still support each other. At the end of the day, that foundation matters a lot. It can overcome whatever challenges pop up–whether those are busy schedules, differing viewpoints or something else entirely. Without this friendship, so much of what I have done in the name of fandom would have never taken place and I would have had a LOT less fun over the years.

This leads me ot appreciate Duran Duran and my fandom. During this summer, Rhonda and I were able to attend a number of shows. While I felt like I appreciated them then, now I really do. I distinctly remember a moment at one of the shows this summer when I realized very clearly that there is nothing that brings me joy like being at a Duran Duran concert. It is where I am the happiest. Duran represents fun and good times.

The majority of my life is such that I’m serious a lot. I work more than I should. I focus my energy on being politically active. No, those tasks don’t bring me joy in the traditional sense but what they do bring is immense satisfaction. They bring a real purpose to my life. I feel fulfilled when students really learn something and when they become politically active themselves. The high that results from fighting in some sort campaign cannot be easily explained. I cannot walk away from that aspect of myself. Yet, Duran, fandom and fun provides the necessary infusion of energy and joy that keeps me going. I need both in my life.

I then look forward to the two trips I have coming up to Washington D.C. At the end of the year, I’ll venture there to see Duran Duran play a couple of shows and I will get the burst of energy and good times that I need. Then, I’ll return to the city a couple weeks later to march in the Women’s March on Washington. I am grateful to all that will make both happen from my colleagues, to my friends, to my parents, to Duran Duran and to other activists. I appreciate them all.

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